A speaker your audience won’t forget.
Traci will inspire your audience to achieve their full potential without sacrificing what matters most.
“Get her on your stage; your audience will thank you.”
“As someone who’s attended and organized hundreds of events, I know what I’m looking for in a great presenter. It’s a mix of personality, experience, insight and storytelling that leads to heads nodding, waves of laughter and the deep sighs of realization. It’s rare to find a speaker you don’t worry about accomplishing this. But Traci Barrett is one of those unique individuals who is both engaging and brutally honest in all the best ways. Get her on your stage; your audience will thank you.”
-Carl Smith,
Owner, Bureau of Digital
Watch Traci In Action
I value sharing the lessons I've learned from media giants, entrepreneurial founders, and C-Suite executives.
I enjoy sharing stories from my days of building both HGTV as well as my current company, Navigate the Journey. I have walked in the shoes of a scrappy leader at a fledging start-up as well as an executive at a billion dollar corporate enterprise.
I am particularly drawn to mission-driven leaders who are working to take their careers and lives to the next level. Those who desire to make a positive impact on the world.
“Her passion for this topic was infectious, and our employees left feeling inspired and motivated to create more purposeful experiences in their lives.”
"Traci is an exceptional presenter who delivered an inspiring and thought-provoking session on Why Our Work Matters at our all-firm meeting. Her expertise in finding meaning and purpose in our work was evident from the start, as she engaged our employees with insightful perspectives and actionable strategies.
Throughout the session, Traci demonstrated a deep understanding of the importance of meaningful work and its impact on employee engagement, motivation, and overall well-being. Her passion for this topic was infectious, and our employees left feeling inspired and motivated to create more purposeful experiences in their lives.
Traci brought a high level of professionalism, enthusiasm, and authenticity to her presentation. She tailored her message to meet the needs of our employees, and her delivery was both engaging and impactful.
I highly recommend Traci to any organization seeking a dynamic and knowledgeable speaker who can inspire their team to find greater meaning in their work. It was a pleasure to have her present to our employees.”
- Jennifer Sides, PHR
Chief People Officer, Anders CPAs
signature keynotes
Traci teaches audiences how to find purpose and joy in their work so that their impact is positive and powerful. Below are her most-requested keynotes, each enhanced with captivating stories, research, and applicable takeaways to best resonate with specific audiences.
Healthy Ambition
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE EXCELLENCE IN A CHANGING WORLD
Next-Level Leadership
REDEFINING AMBITION FOR THE MODERN LEADER
Freedom to Scale
HEALTHY AMBITION FOR ENTREPRENEURS WHO WANT MORE, ON THEIR TERMS
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“Traci is a powerhouse of a human being and her approach, content, and delivery style are unmatched. If you are looking for someone to help transform the thinking of your audience, she is the speaker for you! Be prepared for a whole new way of thinking about work and life and how they are connected at the most basic level. To create a life you love is to also do work you love. Highly recommend Traci!“
AJ Vaden, CEO & Co-Founder Brand Builders Group
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"Traci CRUSHED IT when she spoke to our community of Pinnacle Business Guides! Our community has seen a lot of speakers, and few can hold the stage the way Traci did. Her humor, energy and spot on content had everyone hanging on each word and taking pictures of her slides as they did not want to miss a concept. If you are looking for a speaker that does the research and comes ready to connect with your audience, then you are ready for Traci. We all left with a determination to live a more intentional life with a greater meaning."
-Gregory Cleary Author of Path to the Pinnacle, and Co-Founder of Pinnacle Business Guides
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“Traci presented an effortlessly engaging keynote at the 2024 PMI Nashville Symposium. Her 'Make Your Work Matter' message inspired all of us to uncover the deeper meaning in our work, irrespective of our roles. Participants left feeling energized, and people are still raving about her presentation. If you want a keynote that is both inspiring and actionable, Traci is an absolute must-have. I highly recommend her!”
-Nancy C Everitt, PMP , President Elect Nashville PMI Chapter
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“Through various local, regional, and global roles in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, I have worked with many speakers and Traci exemplifies professionalism in every aspect. She was prepared, on time, present in the moment. She was an exceptional speaker on stage, communicating clearly with right amount of energy and relatability. Traci has great stories taken from her days at HGTV, her work with key clients and businesses, and her own life journey. She not only encourages professional growth but personal growth as well. Traci far exceeded our expectations.”
-Tom McManus, Learning Chair, Entrepreneurs Organization
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“Traci’s book and facilitation helps you see that you can speak life into the future you truly desire and want so bad to give yourself permission to live out. Having the author of the book come to speak to our group is a special treat and it was just that to have her in the room to share her life’s stories and lessons in person. The session was beautifully interactive just like a book club of old friends with Traci creating a space for the business owners in the room to share their experiences, their dreams, and desires to apply the tools Traci introduced.“
-Sonia Petkewich, Mastermind Community Leader, Catalyst Mastermind Collaborative
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"Traci is one of the best speakers I’ve had the privilege to hear in a long time. We recently invited Traci to be our Keynote speaker at our All Area President meeting. She is incredibly thoughtful, motivating and helped us all remember why we do what we do. I can’t recommend Traci enough and regularly share a copy of her book with friends and colleagues."
-Brian Ford, Area President, FocusCFO
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"Traci graciously spoke at National Association of Women Business Owners in Nashville. Traci's stories, quotables, and teaching points brought the room to life ... and the cameras out to take pictures of her slides with powerful illustrations. She was one of the most engaging speakers, especially "off stage" interacting with everyone in the room. Attendees departed with valuable insights they've continued to talk about. Traci was a dream to work with in being flexible, knowledgeable, and prepared. She communicated clearly as we planned for the meeting. Very easy to work with. We highly recommend her!"
-Sheri Traxler, Membership Committee, NAWBO Nashville
Book Traci for Your Virtual Event
Traci is proficient in delivering virtual keynotes, webinars, and workshops. She has been certified by eSpeakers as a virtual speaker with years of experience and state-of-the-art equipment to bring a top-quality presentation to your team. Connect your team with powerful content without them needing to leave their desk!
signature keynotes
Healthy Ambition:
Achieving Sustainable Excellence in a Changing World.
Excellence is a constantly evolving target, and the pressure to stay ahead is relentless. Too many leaders are burning out while their organizations lose the very spark that made them great. We’ve taught leaders how to climb higher, but never how to survive the altitude once they get there.
Scaling excellence requires more than just effort; it demands a new kind of ambition. Healthy Ambition is the essential framework that teaches leaders how to close the gap between high-functioning and next-level performance, without sacrificing culture, creativity, or well-being.
In this transformative keynote, Traci Schubert Barrett, a founding executive of HGTV, best-selling author, and trusted advisor to high-performing teams, educates leaders on the importance of balancing results, relationships, and identity as they navigate the ever-changing world of work and pursue their highest potential without wavering or burning out.
Your audience will learn:
How to sustainably be your best while navigating change and uncertainty
The three critical leadership levers that drive resilience, connection, and impact
Why “good enough” is the enemy of innovation—and how to reignite job joy
Pittfalls to avoid when closing the performance gap
How to bring their teams along with them in their healthy ambition journey
With a dynamic mix of business strategy and deep emotional intelligence, Traci delivers more than inspiration, she delivers a roadmap for organizations ready to grow with intention and thrive through change.
Embrace the impact of Healthy Ambition: Leadership that Endures. Growth that Sustains.
Target Audience: Leaders, Managers, Individual Contributors
Next-level leadership:
Redefining Ambition for the Modern Leader
In today’s fast-moving, high-pressure environment, the leaders who thrive aren’t the ones who push harder; they’re the ones who lead smarter, deeper, and with healthy ambition.
This keynote redefines what Next-Level Leadership looks like in a world that’s constantly shifting. Drawing from the Healthy Ambition framework, it challenges high-achieving leaders to pursue sustainable excellence by aligning three essential pillars: Identity, Relationships, and Results.
Through compelling stories, proven strategies, and the perspective of someone who helped launch one of the most successful brands in media, Traci Schubert Barrett invites leaders to move beyond achievement for achievement’s sake and embrace the kind of ambition that fuels clarity, connection, and sustainable success.
In this experience, leaders will:
Reframe ambition as a powerful, renewable force that sustains energy and impact
Sharpen the three essential dimensions of modern leadership: Identity, Relationships, and Results
Learn to scale their leadership in a way that strengthens culture and fuels innovation
Traci’s delivery blends executive savvy with deep insight, helping seasoned leaders reconnect with what drives them and how to drive others forward. It’s a strategic reset for leaders navigating complexity, growth, and people leadership at scale.
This isn’t just a talk. It’s a challenge to evolve, inspire, and lead with impact.
Target Audience: New managers, Middle Managers, Senior Leaders, Director Level, People Leaders
Freedom to scale:
Healthy Ambition for Entrepreneurs Who Want More, On Their Terms
You’ve built a strong business. You’ve led well. And from the outside, everything appears to be working.
But deep down, you may be wondering: What will it really take to grow this to the next level, and will it cost me more than I’m willing to give?
Freedom to Scale is a keynote designed for high-performing entrepreneurs who are ready to scale with intention, not exhaustion. Traci Schubert Barrett, a founding executive at HGTV and strategic advisor to growth-minded leaders, delivers a powerful, practical framework for pursuing more - more impact, more alignment, more success - without sacrificing yourself, your team, or your original vision.
Through her signature Healthy Ambition approach, Traci challenges business owners to release the fear that growth must come at a personal cost and instead embrace a better way forward.
In this keynote, entrepreneurs will LEARN:
To strengthen their identity as a leader so the business grows from vision, not reaction
How to invest in relationships that create a culture of trust and collaboration
To drive meaningful results that expand impact and profitability, without sacrificing your well-being or values
Freedom to Scale reframes scaling not as a burden but as a breakthrough. It’s for leaders who believe in what they’ve built and are bold enough to ask what’s possible when they stop playing small.
Because when you lead with healthy ambition, you don’t lose what makes your business great. You amplify it.
Target Audience: Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, Leaders of Start-ups
“Traci had me on the edge of my seat with how personable she presented.”
"Over the course of this multi-day event, Traci captivated my attention more than any other presenter. As an event professional, I hear hundreds of CEOs, leaders, and professional speakers each year. Traci had me on the edge of my seat with how personable she presented. Traci brought the human element back into the room. Fireside chats, panels, and keynotes are all great, but Traci took the focus off the stage and helped us look inside ourselves."
- Cameron Magee,
Owner, Avad3 Event Production
What Makes Traci Different?
Traci comes prepared with additional resources that your audience can access after the event. She is also happy to arrange copies of her best-selling book for everyone to enjoy!
Whether it’s stories from the early days of HGTV, behind the scenes of the television world, the ups and downs of being a leader, or just everyday experiences of her own homelife, Traci always has her audiences laughing, learning, and leaning in.
Your audience will walk away with ideas, information, and inspiration they can immediately apply both professionally and personally. Traci’s presentations go beyond the entertaining and make a difference in people’s lives.
Traci has walked in your shoes. She is an entrepreneur, leader, corporate executive, and devoted wife and mother. She knows what it feels like to juggle it all, navigate life’s pivots, and take a leap of faith to pave a new path.
Traci is a speaker you can feel confident putting in front of your audience. With a master’s degree in psychology, over twenty years of corporate business experience, and a decade of running her own company, Traci is a certified executive coach and an emotional intelligence expert you can trust.
Download Traci's speaker kit to discover how her dynamic speaking programs can elevate your next event!
Book Traci for your next event
Traci combines personal experiences, leading-edge research, and professional expertise to inspire audiences to look inward at who they are and then turn outward to make a positive impact on the world around them. She has a high-energy personality that is impressive yet approachable, making her the best choice for your next in-person or virtual event.